Plastic container with a pour spout

ABSTRACT

A plastic container is disclosed which can include a pour spout for mounting on a container neck and having one or more closable pour openings. At least one blow molded cam can project over a neck wall of the container neck, the pour spout having a body configured for connection to the container neck, and made to correspond with a peripheral contour of the container neck and to have a corresponding number of receptacles for cam(s) in a wall facing the neck wall. For example, at least one cam is formed in an inside wall of the container neck.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority as a continuation application under 35 U.S.C. §120 to PCT/EP2011/003288, which was filed as an International Application on Jul. 2, 2011 designating the U.S., and which claims priority to Swiss Application 00264/2011 filed in Switzerland on Feb. 15, 2011. The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a plastic container with a pour spout.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Containers of tin plate or nonferrous sheet metal, of glass or also of ceramic which were known, arc being increasingly displaced by plastic containers. Recently mainly plastic containers are being used especially for the packaging of fluid substances, for example for applications in the home, in agriculture, industry and commerce, and so forth. The low weight and lower costs certainly play a not inconsiderable part in this substitution. The use of recyclable plastic materials and the generally more favorable total energy balance in their manufacture also contribute to promoting the acceptance of plastic containers, especially of plastic bottles, among users.

Single-layer or multilayer plastic containers are often produced in a so-called extrusion blow molding method, such as in a method of extrusion of blown tubing. The extrusion blow molding machines which are used for the extrusion blow molding method can have one or more extruders for supply of the desired plastic material. The outlet of the extruder is connected to an extruder head, having an exit nozzle which can for example be adjusted in an opening width, and upon which an extruded tubing emerges.

The extruded plastic tubing can have one or several layers. The tubing which can emerge continuously or quasicontinuously from the exit nozzle is transferred to a blow molding tool arrangement and is inflated by overpressure using a blowing mandrel which has been moved into the mold cavity. Afterwards the inflated plastic container is removed from the mold cavity.

Plastic containers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar materials can be produced in a so-called stretch blow molding method. Here a cylindrical preform is produced first in an injection molding process in an injection mold. Recently flow molding methods have been considered for producing preforms.

The preform has an essentially elongated cylindrical body and is made closed on one longitudinal end. A support ring separates the body from a neck section with a pour opening. The neck section already has what will be the later shape of the bottle neck. On the outside of the neck section, threaded sections or the like can be pre-formed for fixing a closure part.

The preform is removed from the mold after its production, and further processed or stored temporarily for later processing on a stretch blow molding machine. Before further processing in the stretch blow molding machine the preform is conditioned if desired; afterwards it is inserted into a blow mold of the stretch blow molding machine.

In the blow mold, the preform is finally inflated by a gas which has been blown in with overpressure according to the mold cavity and here the preform can be additionally stretched with a stretching mandrel. An injection blow molding method is also known in which the blow molding process takes place directly subsequently to the injection of the preform.

The preform remains on the injection core which moreover forms a type of stretching mandrel. The preform is in turn inflated by overpressure according to the mold cavity of a blow mold which is delivered onto the injection core or vice versa, and in doing so is stretched by the stretching mandrel. Afterwards the finished plastic container is removed from the mold.

Depending on the type of substance to be poured out, the plastic containers which have been produced in the extrusion blow molding method or in the stretch blow molding method can be provided with different pour spouts. The pour spout should for example enable spill-free pouring, simplify proportioning or allow smooth delivery of the substance contained in the container.

In addition to matching to the respective substance, the use of a pour spout also can have an advantage that the same type of plastic containers can be equipped with a different pour spout as desired by the bottler. The pour spout can be equipped with a seal which enables sealing of the container.

For example, for this purpose a pivotable cover part is coupled to a top of the pour spout. But there can also be pour spouts which have an external thread or external threaded sections which interact with the internal thread or the internal threaded sections of a twist cap.

When the twist cap is actuated, such as when screwing it on, it can happen that the pour spout turns concomitantly as a result of the applied torque. This can make it difficult to screw on the twist cap. The concomitant turning of the pour spout can however lead mainly to the pour spout no longer assuming its intended set position with respect to the container body, which should be maintained in presently known systems with an accuracy of ±15°. Therefore on the part of the container manufacturer or the bottler, currently a not inconsiderable cost is borne to ensure a position accuracy of the pour spout, and to prevent twisting of the pour spout when the twist cap is actuated.

In one version, the pour spout which is attached after filling of the plastic container is cemented to the container neck into which it is inserted. Aside from the additional effort and the added costs, the adhesive used for cementing is undesirable in the recycling of plastic containers and involves added separation and cleaning steps. Cementing-in of the pour spout using electrical welding techniques involves a not inconsiderable technical effort and financial cost.

An alternative version calls for the pour spout after filling to be forced into the container neck and to be held there by friction. Relatively large forces are applied to overcome the frictional forces when forcing the pour spout into the container neck. This results in the plastic container having to withstand increased compression. To ensure this, the plastic container should have a greater wall thickness and therefore should be produced with a greater container weight. This can make the production of the plastic container much more expensive.

In another version, the pour spout is inserted into a still hot container neck immediately after the blow molding of the plastic container. When the plastic container is cooled the diameter of the container neck decreases. In this way the container neck is more or less shrunk onto the pour spout. In this way the plastic container is fixed essentially immovably with respect to its position.

With this version however, the container is filled through the pour spout. This reduces the filling rate. Depending on the configuration of the pour spout, additional hardware modifications can also be involved which can adversely affects cost.

Whether the pour spout is mounted immediately after production of the container or only after filling, in any case a very careful alignment of the pour spout with reference to the body of the container should be undertaken.

In order to counteract the concomitant turning of the mounted pour spout when unscrewing the twist cap, it has also already been proposed that the twist cap and/or the pour spout be provided with a lubricant, such as coated with a lubricant. The lubricant should be inert to the contents, and for example in the case of foods, should be unobjectionable to the consumer. The choice of suitable lubricants is therefore relatively limited. The application of the lubricant to the twist cap and/or the pour spout can involve additional effort and added costs.

SUMMARY

A plastic container is disclosed, comprising: a pour spout for mounting on a container neck and having one or more closable pour openings; and at least one blow molded cam which projects over a neck wall of the container neck, the pour spout having a body configured for connection to the container neck, and made to correspond with a peripheral contour of the container neck and to have a corresponding number of receptacles for cam(s) in a wall facing the neck wall which is provided with at least one cam, wherein the at least one cam is formed in an inside wall of the container neck and wherein the at least one receptacle is formed in an outside wall of the body of the pour spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the schematics. The Figures, which are not to scale, are as follows:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary container neck with an inserted pour spout;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the exemplary container neck with an inserted pour spout from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the exemplary container neck from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the exemplary container neck;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the exemplary pour spout from FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a partially cut perspective of another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective according to FIG. 6 with an exemplary pour spout which is twisted relative to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a partially cut perspective of another exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective according to FIG. 8 with an exemplary pour spout which has been axially shifted and twisted relative to FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments can provide plastic containers with pour spouts which can avoid a use of lubricants. A plastic container and the pertinent pour spout are modified such that simple mounting is possible. Additional fixing steps for the pour spout can be omitted. It is also possible to omit adhesives which could lead to added costs in the recycling of plastic containers.

In exemplary designs, optimization of the plastic container with respect to its weight can be achieved. Prerequisites are created for the use of modified pour spouts with integrated or alternatively arranged closure means.

An exemplary plastic container with a pour spout as disclosed herein can be mounted on a container neck and can have one or more closable pour openings.

On the container neck there is at least one cam which projects over one neck wall and which is formed in a blow molding method. This blow molding method can, for example, be an extrusion blow molding method or a stretch blow molding method.

The pour spout has a body which can be connected to the container neck and which can be made to correspond with a peripheral contour of the container neck. A corresponding number of receptacles for the cam(s) is made in a wall of the body facing the neck wall which is provided with at least one cam. In contrast to known plastic containers, the at least one cam which is shaped in a blow molding method is formed in the inside wall of the container neck. The at least one receptacle on the body of the corresponding pour spout is provided in an outside wall of the body of the pour spout.

The pour spout which is equipped with at least one corresponding receptacle can be mounted quickly on a container neck which is provided with a cam, and can be applied with force thereon. The mounting of the pour spout on the container neck can take place in known manner after filling; that is, no technical modifications of the filling devices are necessary.

After its mounting, the pour spout is held positively on the container neck, such that it can have a somewhat smaller diameter than the container neck. In this way much smaller forces are possible in the mounting of the pour spout and the plastic container need not have increased compressive strength.

The positive connection between the pour spout and the container neck can be made movable over a certain peripheral area. But as soon as the at least one cam strikes one peripheral edge of the receptacle, movability is ended and for example a twist cap can be screwed off the pour spout or onto it. The positive connection between the pour spout and the container neck allows an adhesive to be omitted. This can make the production of the container less expensive, and can facilitate recycling after its use.

An exemplary configuration of the plastic container and of the pour spout as disclosed herein also makes it possible to omit lubrication coatings of the pour spout and/or of a twist cap.

On the inside wall of the container neck there can be one or more, for example two, cams opposite one another. Accordingly the pour spout is equipped with a corresponding number of receptacles; for example it has two receptacles opposite one another.

By at least one cam which has been produced in the blow molding method being formed in the inside wall of the container neck and at least one receptacle being formed in the outside wall of the body of the pour spout, simple insertion mounting of the pour spout can be achieved. The at least one cam on the inside wall of the container neck does not represent a barrier to devices which for example are slipped over the container neck when filling. If the neck of the plastic container moreover on its outside wall has a thread or threaded segments, it can also be easily used without the pour spout and can be closed with any known, suitable twist cap. This can increase the flexibility of the use of the plastic container.

In order to address overrotation of the pour spout when the screw cap is being actuated, at least one cam opposite the neck wall can have an exemplary projection from 1.3 mm to 8 mm. Its extension in the peripheral direction of the neck wall is, for example, roughly 3 min to 8 mm.

The position of the at least one cam is freely selectable. For reasons of production technology it can however be advantageous if the at least one cam is located in the mold removal plane of the blow mold. In this way the plastic container can be very easily removed from the mold after inflation when the cams are located in the inside wall of the container neck.

For reasons of symmetry and in order to avoid additional alignment of the container and of the pour spout, it can be advantageous if the container neck has an essentially rotationally symmetrical peripheral contour. It can, for example, be made circular.

To facilitate the mounting of the pour spout on the container neck, at least one receptacle in the body of the pour spout extends up to the free end of the body. In addition, in the receptacle there can be an axial safeguard which can prevent the pour spout from being pulled out and such that the pour spout can only be removed by destroying the body.

In order to reduce the effort for alignment of the pour spout for mounting, in an exemplary embodiment the at least one receptacle runs into a centering guide whose extension measured in a peripheral direction widens in a direction of a free end of the body. Depending on the axial length of the body, the feed bevels of the centering guide can allow tolerances in the alignment accuracy of the pour spout with reference to the container neck, for example with reference to an arrangement of the cams on the container neck, of up to ±30°.

In another version, the at least one receptacle can be made as a link guide for the at least one cam. The link guide can run in a peripheral direction and extend over an exemplary angular range from 45° to 90°.

Exemplary versions which are based on a fundamental principle of positive connection of the pour spout and of the container neck are intended, for example, with pour spouts with alternative arrangements of the pour opening(s) and with alternatively made closure means. For example the pour spout has a cover plate which is provided with the pour opening and which can be moved to overlap an opening provided on the container neck by twisting the pour spout relative to the container neck.

Another exemplary embodiment of the plastic container with a pour spout calls for at least one receptacle to be made in the body of the pour spout as a link guide for at least one cam which extends over an angular range from 45° to 90° in a peripheral direction. Here the link guide is arranged to run obliquely such that twisting of the pour spout relative to the container neck results in an axial displacement of the pour spout out of the container neck or back again. The axially movability of the pour spout can facilitate the pouring process. This however can also enable alternative arrangements of the pour opening(s).

For example, the pour spout can have at least one pour opening which is located in the side wall of the body and is opened only in the extended position of the pour spout. When the pour spout has been drawn back into the container neck, the pour opening is closed.

On the two end sections of the link guide there can be catch projections for the cam. The catch projections project into the positioning path of the cam to such an extent that they can be overrun with a relatively small expenditure of force. The catch projections however can provide for embodiments wherein a set relative position between the cam and link guide will not change unintentionally.

The plastic container with cam(s) on the container neck can be produced, for example, in the extrusion blow molding method or also in a stretch blow molding method from a separately produced preform. Prefabricated preforms however can have a completely formed neck section with an external thread which is no longer altered in the following blow molding process.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that preforms can also be prefabricated without a thread in the neck section. The threaded sections can then be produced in the following blow molding process by correspondingly shaped sliding parts. At least one cam can then also be prepared on the container neck.

Exemplary versions produced in an extrusion blow molding method as disclosed herein can provide greater degrees of freedom with respect to the configuration of the neck section of the plastic container. For example, in an exemplary extrusion blow molding method as disclosed herein, a formation of the container neck can take place exclusively in the blow mold.

The pour spout with at least one receptacle in its body can be advantageously produced in an economical plastic injection method.

FIG. 1 shows a partially cut neck section of an exemplary plastic container labeled 1, for example a plastic bottle, with a pour spout which is labeled 10. The plastic container 1 is produced in a blow molding method, for example in an extrusion blow molding method or in a stretch blow molding method and can include (e.g., consist of) known plastic materials which are known for use in these methods, such as for example PE, HDPE, PP, PET, PEN, PS, PLA, PA, as well as copolymers of these materials, and so forth. It can be built up in one or more layers.

The plastic container 1 has a container neck 2 on whose outside wall a screw thread 3 is formed. In the case of a plastic container which has been produced in a stretch blow molding method this external thread can be completed in advance on the preform which had been produced beforehand in a plastic injection method and is not further changed in the blow molding process. In the extrusion blow molding method the container neck with the external thread is only formed in the blow mold on the inserted section of the extruded plastic tubing.

The pour spout which has been inserted into the container neck 2 has a pour opening 11. The illustrated pour spout 10 is made such that liquid trickling down can be collected on the opening edge and routed back into the interior of the plastic container 1. To do this, the pour spout can have a body 12 with a cylindrical jacket, from whose bottom a pour fitting projects in which there is the actual pour opening 11. The bottom is provided with at least one opening (not shown) through which the liquid can drain again into the plastic container. The cylindrical jacket of the body 12 has a peripheral flange-like collar 13 with which it is supported on the edge of the opening of the container neck 2.

In an exemplary alternate version of the plastic container, in the container neck a peripheral ring projection can be made on which the body of the pour spout is supported. The body 12 of the pour spout 10 has an outside wall 14 with a peripheral contour which corresponds to that of the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2.

The cross section of FIG. 2 shows that the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2 and the outside wall 14 of the body 12 of the pour spout can have a circular cross section which are made corresponding to one another. The pour opening of the pour spout 10 is labeled 11.

FIG. 2 shows that the pour spout 11 which has been inserted into the container neck 2 can be fixed positively against twisting. For this reason a cam 7 is formed on the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2. The cam interacts positively with a receptacle 15 in the outside wall 14 of the body 12 of the pour spout 11. The cam 7 is produced in a blow molding method within the blow mold. Its contour follows that of a corresponding projection on the blow mold and is fixed by the inflation process.

If desired, during the blow molding method, a calibration of the container neck takes place. On the outside of the container neck 2 a recess 8 shows where the plastic material was pressed against the projection on the blow mold. To simplify the removal of the plastic container from the mold after inflation, the cam 7 is located in a mold removal plane of the blow mold. A plane turned by 90° relative to the parting plane of the blow mold is called the mold removal plane here.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary plan view of the plastic container 1. The container neck is labeled 2, the external thread is labeled 3. The Figure shows the cam 7 which projects from the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2. The projecting length of the cam 7 relative to the inside wall 4 is for example roughly (e.g., ±10 percent) 1.3 mm to 8 mm. The length of the cam 7 measured in the peripheral direction is for example 3 mm to 8 mm.

FIG. 3 shows only a single cam. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there can be several, for example two cams which, diametrically opposite one another, are molded on the inside wall of the container neck. In the outer wall of the body of the pour spout there are then two corresponding receptacles. But there can also be several cams which are distributed asymmetrically over the inside wall of the container neck. This can be advantageous for precise mounting of the pour spout.

In the side view of the plastic container 1 shown in FIG. 4, the recess resulting from the blow mold on the outside of the container neck 2 is labeled 8. It is located for example underneath the threads 3. The recess can however also be located between the threads for reasons of space.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the exemplary pour spout 10 from FIG. 1. The body of the pour spout 10 is labeled 12. It has a cylindrical jacket from whose bottom a pour fitting projects in which there is the pour opening 11. The bottom runs tilted and is provided with at least one opening (not shown) through which the liquid can drain off.

The cylindrical jacket of the body 12 has a peripheral flange-like collar 13 with which it is supported on the edge of the opening of the container neck. The receptacle 15 is recessed in the outside wall 14 of the body 12. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the pour spout 10, the receptacle 15 extends in a direction facing away from the flange-like collar 13 and discharges into a centering guide 17 with feed bevels 18. The centering guide 17 with the feed bevels 18 facilitates positionally accurate mounting of the pour spout 10 in the container neck.

Depending on the axial length of the body 12, the feed bevels 18 of the centering guide 17 allow tolerances in the alignment accuracy of the pour spout 10 with reference to the container neck, for example with reference to the arrangement of the cam(s) on the container neck, of for example up to ±30°.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an exemplary embodiment in schematic form in two positions. The container neck in turn is labeled 2. The pour spout is labeled 20. It has a somewhat cup-like body 22 in whose bottom there is a pour opening 21.

In the wall 24 of the body 22 facing the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2 a slot-like receptacle 25 is recessed for positive accommodation of a cam 7 which projects from the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2. The receptacle 25 is made as a link guide 26 and extends in the peripheral direction over an angular range from for example roughly 45° to 90°.

In the container neck 2 a plate-like neck seal 6 which has an opening 5 is formed. By twisting the pour spout 20 relative to the container neck 2 the pour opening 21 in the pour spout 20 and the opening 5 in the neck covering 6 are caused to overlap and thus the plastic container is opened (FIG. 7). By turning the pour spout 20 back into the initial position (FIG. 6) the plastic container is closed again.

On the two end sections of the link guide 26 catch projections 29 for the cam 7 project. The catch projections 29 project into a positioning path of the cam 7 to such an extent that they can be overrun with a relatively low expenditure of force. But the catch projections 29 provide for an embodiment whereby the set relative position between the cam 7 and the link guide 26 will not change unintentionally.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another exemplary embodiment in schematic form in two positions. The container neck in turn is labeled 2. The pour spout is labeled 30. It has a somewhat cup-like body 32 in whose bottom there is a pour opening 31.

In the wall 34 of the body 32 facing the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2 a slot-like receptacle 35 is recessed for positive accommodation of a cam 7 which projects from the inside wall 4 of the container neck 2. The receptacle 35 is made as a link guide 36 and extends in the peripheral direction over an angular range of for example from roughly 45° to 90°. The link guide 36 is made to run obliquely in the wall 34 of the body 32 such that twisting of the pour spout 30 relative to the container neck 2 results in axial displacement of the pour spout 30 out of the container neck 2 or back again. Here a pour opening 31 which is provided in the wall 34 of the body 32 is cleared or is reclosed,

On the two end sections of the link guide 36 catch projections 39 for the cam 7 project. The catch projections 39 project into the positioning path of the cam 7 to such an extent that they can be overrun with relatively low expenditure of force, But the catch projections 39 provide an embodiment whereby a set relative position between the cam 7 and the link guide 36 will not change unintentionally.

For reasons of better clarity, FIG. 6-FIG. 9 omit explicit illustration of threads on the container neck. Alternatively to a twist cap however, a snap cap can be provided which can be mounted on the body of the respective pour spout, which body can be made cup-like.

The initially described issues of known plastic containers with a pour spout can be remedied by positive linking of the pour spout to the container neck. The positive linking of the pour spout can also create prerequisites for alternative versions of the pour spout and caps.

The cam which is formed on the container neck can be produced in a blow molding method. For example, the extrusion blow molding method for production of plastic containers with one or more cams located in the neck wall can involve only minor modifications and can be made on existing molding tools without greater effort.

In an arrangement of the cam(s) on an inside wall of the container neck, the plastic container is not optically adversely affected. It can be used with or without mounted pour spouts. Depending on execution of the pour spout, the positioning accuracy can be improved by the positive linkage. The pour spout need only be equipped with corresponding receptacles and can be advantageously produced in an economical plastic injection method.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A plastic container, comprising: a pour spout for mounting on a container neck and having one or more closable pour openings; and at least one blow molded cam which projects over a neck wall of the container neck, the pour spout having a body configured for connection to the container neck, and made to correspond with a peripheral contour of the container neck and to have a corresponding number o f receptacles for cam(s) in a wall facing the neck wall which is provided with at least one cam, wherein the at least one cam is formed in an inside wall of the container neck and wherein the at least one receptacle is formed in an outside wall of the body of the pour spout.
 2. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one cam opposite the neck wall has a projection from 1.3 mm to 8 mm.
 3. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cam has an extension from 3 mm to 8 mm measured in a peripheral direction of the neck wall.
 4. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cam is in a mold removal plane of a blow mold.
 5. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container neck has an essentially rotationally symmetrical peripheral contour.
 6. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one receptacle extends in the body of the pour spout as far as a free end of the body.
 7. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one receptacle runs into a centering guide whose extension measured in the peripheral direction widens in a direction of the free end of the body.
 8. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one receptacle is a link guide for the at least one cam which runs in a peripheral direction and extends over an angular range from 45° to 90°.
 9. The plastic container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pour spout comprises: a pour opening configured to overlap an opening on the container neck when the pour spout is twisted relative to the container neck.
 10. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one receptacle in the body of the pour spout is a link guide for the at least one cam which extends in the peripheral direction over an angular range from 45° to 90° and is arranged to run obliquely such that a twisting of the pour spout relative to the container neck will axially displace the pour spout out of the container neck or back again.
 11. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed claim 10, wherein the pour spout comprises: a pour opening located in the side wall of the body, and configured to open only in an axially extended position of the pour spout.
 12. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 11, wherein two end sections of the link guide comprise: catch projections for the cam.
 13. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, configured as an extrusion blow molded container.
 14. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 1, configured with a plastic injected pour spout.
 15. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one cam has an extension from 3 mm to 8 mm measured in a peripheral direction of the neck wall.
 16. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one cam is in a mold removal plane of a blow mold.
 17. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 16, wherein the container neck has an essentially rotationally symmetrical, circular peripheral contour.
 18. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one receptacle extends in the body of the pour spout as far as a free end of the body.
 19. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one receptacle is a link guide for the at least one cam which runs in a peripheral direction and extends over an angular range from 45° to 90°.
 20. The plastic container with a pour spout as claimed claim 8, wherein the pour spout comprises: a pour opening located in the side wall of the body, and configured to open only in an axially extended position of the pour spout. 